CornerstoneSF is located in a historically religious, San Francisco neighborhood, called The Mission or Mission Dolores. This area is the birthplace of The Mission San Francisco de Asis, the sixth of the twenty-one missions established by Spanish missionaries in California and named after St. Francis of Assisi. The mission was nicknamed Mission Dolores after the nearby creek, Arroyo de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. The Anza Expedition founded the mission site on June 29th, 1776, which is also considered the official birthdate of the city of San Francisco.

The adobe church is located on Dolores Street, approximately two blocks from our Mission Campus, which has been on 17th and Dearborn since 1953. The Mission Dolores seen today was founded in 1791 and is the oldest intact structure in San Francisco. Their cemetery is one of only two remaining in the city after San Francisco announced that it would ban burials in 1912. 

When the 1906 Earthquake decimated most of the city, the Mission District was relatively lucky that the original adobe chapel survived while most of the neighborhood burned down. The building survived the Mexican War of Independence, the California Gold Rush, and several earthquakes, most notably the earthquake of 1906. After a brick church that stood next to the adobe chapel was destroyed in the resulting fire, plans were made to rebuild a church in 1913. Completed in 1918, the Mission Dolores Basilica has become a well-known symbol in the neighborhood.

Mission Dolores had become the focal point for new residents of San Francisco. The Gold Rush was responsible for the increase of population during this time, and by the time the Gold Rush had passed the Mission District had California’s first baseball stadium and recreation grounds, which in 1868, and part of it still remains as Garfield Square. The area also started to receive a large influx of German, Irish, and Italian immigrants.

Today, the Mission District feels centered around Dolores Park and is known for its diverse culture, brilliant artwork, and beautiful architecture. The neighborhood is packed with trend-setting boutiques, restaurants, and more. Mission Street is the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare and is home to a variety of restaurants and shops. Currently, Valencia Street closes a few blocks to traffic on the weekend and is a popular destination for trendy cafes, bars, and boutiques.

We look forward to hosting you at our Mission Campus in the future. Although our cafe has amazing food and coffee, no visit to the neighborhood would be complete without a Mission-style burrito. After church, many attendees will visit local favorites like Cancun, La Taqueria, and El Farolito, though some might argue burritos are just the beginning of typical neighborhood eats. Venga Empanadas is known for its stuffed pastries, Lolinda features delectable Argentine-style cuts from the grill, and Central Kitchen offers standout locally sourced plates served family-style. We look forward to feeding your soul at our service and know you'll also leave the neighborhood feeling full as well.